1(36 FIRST DWARF PINES. 



became more sloping and less craggy, with a 

 light covering of moss upon them. Still farther 

 south, in latitude 63° 15' 00" N., we saw the 

 first dwarf pines, from fourteen inches to two 

 feet high, which my bowman humourously 

 called des petits vieux. In many of these the 

 head of the stem was dead, and blanched with 

 ao-e ; while a progeny of branches shot out 

 from the foot, with just so much of green on their 

 stunted limbs as sufficed to show that they were 

 alive. Nevertheless, such as they were, they 

 were welcome to us, who had not seen any since 

 the 20th of August; and, as all enjoyment is 

 comparative, we looked forward with delight to 

 the comfort of a good fire. Men's notions of 

 happiness vary with their circumstances and 

 condition ; and in the seemingly trifling change 

 from one kind of food to another, the voyageur 

 has as keen a sense of pleasure, and is, per- 

 haps, as grateful to the bountiful Giver, as 

 more favoured mortals amid their boasted refine- 

 ments. 



The eastern shore, though dimmed by a blue 

 mist or haze, was occasionally visible, and the 

 country began to assume a more wooded and 

 inhabitable look. When we got to a long and 

 rounded mound, about half a mile from the 

 western side, I observed that both the Indians 

 assumed a look of superstitious awe, and main- 



